Forum - View topicDoes anime open your mind to explore Japanese culture?
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Jkid
 Posts: 197 Location: Capitol Heights ,MD |
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Pretty Girl’s point of view: Anime helps some anime fans open closed doors. Anime helps people appreciate foreign culture, thereby opening people’s minds to accepting others’ ideals, beliefs, and schools of thought. For example, if Wendy hadn’t come across anime, she would never have had the interest to learn Japanese. Anime had directly affected her interest in exploring the Japanese culture. Another example might be Joe, who joined the Go club at his school after watching Hikaru No Go (an anime about the Japanese game Go).
I really agree with Pretty Girl's point of view. The first anime I've seen in the US, made me surch for everything Japan. And I'm still planning to study abroad to Japan when I get to college. Besides if I've never seen any anime, I would have never heard of Japan at all. |
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Steventheeunuch
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I find it a bit rich that you think you would have never heard of Japan at all, considering
1. A lot of consumer technology comes from them 2. We often get games improted from them 3. The US were at war with them, and it was a fairly publicised, well known war (you know, it was the second one with like, the world?) Also, my point wasn't that it didn't open minds or expand whatevers, it was just that Anime fans are, first and foremost, Anime fans, and the "ZOMG I LOVE JAPAN" aspect comes second, if at all. I still fail to see how this is not true. |
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dormcat
Encyclopedia Editor
 Posts: 9902 Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC |
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[Joking] UNICEF sent out questionnaires to children around the globe: "Many countries in the world have been lacking foods. Please write your personal opinion about the issue." European children don't know the word "lacking." African children don't know the word "food." Asian children don't know the phrase "personal opinion." American (US) children don't know the phrase "many countries in the world." [/Joking] |
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daxomni
 Posts: 2650 Location: Somewhere else. |
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IF, because of anime, you have become more open to exploring different aspects of the Japanese culture, what aspects have you looked into? How has anime opened your mind?
Examples: Did you start using chopsticks more often? Did you organize a visit to Japan? I only use chopsticks once in a blue moon and I cheat when I do use them. I guess I just find them to be less efficient than simply stabbing at my food like an uncouth barbarian. I never "organized a visit to Japan," unless that includes really quick visits. I've flown through Narita maybe a half dozen times now, but late last year I actually stopped off for a day of mild sightseeing in Tokyo just to see what it was like. I was completely on my own and I didn't speak Japanese, so I had to write down (in simple English) whatever it was I wanted to say. It took me a lot longer than I expected just to find my ryoken. Buying tickets and getting around on the trains was relatively easy, but walking around trying to find a specific address was almost maddeningly difficult. I spent my single free day in wintry Tokyo just walking along the streets and ducking into shops or riding the train when I needed to warm up. Needless to say, if I ever go again I'll probably try to learn some Japanese first and perhaps travel with a guide so that I can get more out of my trip. Also, I'll definitely consider spending some of my time outside of Tokyo. The concrete jungle thing they have going on is surprisingly ugly and drab for the most part. Shinjuku, Akihabara, and the like are fairly interesting, but much of Tokyo is just plain ugly IMO. Anyway, back to the crux of your question... I first noticed that Japan held a bit of my interest in the mid 1980's. As I was watching the credits of some video game roll by, somebody pointed out that they were nearly all Japanese. Until that time I hadn't really thought of Japan as being terribly interesting. Over time I began to realize that Japan was a major source of advanced technology, but Japanese culture in general wasn't terribly interesting to me until after I discovered anime. So, at least in my specific case, anime did in fact play a major role in opening my mind to Japanese culture. |
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Pat Payne
Posts: 45 Location: Los Angeles, CA |
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Well, I've always had an interest in history, and so historical-based anime (such as Ruroni Kenshin) gave me an avenue for looking into the culture of the Meiji Restoration or the Sengoku period, or Heian. I even took a number of Japanese history classes in college partly because of anime. In some ways, after reading a recent book on the SHinsengumi, the real story (or as much as the author could piece together) is even more interesting than the characters depicted in Kenshin. It of course helps, though that I have a aunt who is Japanese. Can't use chopsticks to save my life, though. 
I do want to visit Japan, but I think that'll wait until I go to London first. I've always wanted to visit both Tokyo and London, just want to visit London more. |
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daxomni
Posts: 2650 Location: Somewhere else. |
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London is a nice place too, but I suggest you avoid Heathrow at all costs. Try for Gatwick if you can. |
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ParaParaJMo
 Posts: 333 Location: Gilbert, AZ, USA |
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Not only does it get me interested in Japanese culture, but other things like sports anime does get me interested in the sport. Like Prince of Tennis. I was never much of a tennis fan even though my girlfriend in high school was on the team. But Prince of Tennis made things easier for me to understand the game though the games are DBZish.
I was always a boxing fan to begin with, but I was always easily captured by Hajime no Ippo and Ashita no Joe. |
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PantsGoblin
 SubscriberEncyclopedia Editor  Posts: 2969 Location: L.A. |
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As much as I hate to admit it I'd have to agree with you on that. Trash is everywhere, the air smells like a mixture of sewer water and cigarrete smoke, and many of the people there are just plain rude to foreigners. Akihabara was certainly my favorite place. Although it was wierd, walking around in the anime stores, being the only American in the store, yet I was so interested in all of the anime merchindise. Osaka is much different. Osaka actually smelled nice in some of the places (cause of all the great food) and the people were extremely friendly, not to metion a bit crazy sometimes. If you want to see some beautiful scenery and traditional Japanese cultural finds, Kyoto's the place to be. Lot's of temples and shrines and greenary. As for anime opening my mind to Japanese culture. Well I've been interested in Japanese culture before I knew about anime, but anime certainly played a major role in my interest. I would probably only be half as interested in the culture if it wasn't for anime. |
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Arkard
 Posts: 677 Location: Poland |
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Woah there! Whats all this then? I mean, you can argue whetever Japan is a foreigner friendly place, wheter or not the urban jungle is suitable for your tastes but dont go spreadin such propaganda 
I visited Japan twice already and to me it is one of the cleanest countries. Sure, they may have trouble with waste managment due to the lack of free space but I didn't see ONE trash lying outside a trash bin, and I really travelled All over the Kanto region. Now China Town in Yokohama - thats a trash hole. |
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SFC_Omicron
Posts: 2 |
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...I'd have to agree with Pretty Girl on this one...
...Simply put, animé can pique an interest in other things aside from Japanese culture. Watching some of the lesser known animé that I watched in the Philippines as a kid (Voltron, Voltus 5), gave me a touch of what I would later come to know as animé. Moving to Canada and watching "Saber Rider", "Samurai Pizza Cats", and "Tekkaman" (Teknoman as it was known on Fox), helped me delve deeper into animé. Soon, I was looking for other series with the same animation style, such as Sailor Moon, DragonBall Z (I've fallen out of that particular series since then), and the like. Some of the real-life aspects (such as watching characters eat and what they eat, like in Sailor Moon and DragonBall Z), made me wonder what exactly it was they ate, since sometimes their plotlines drifted toward real-life situations. Enter watching more animé for similar customs and surfing the internet for sites on Japanese customs, garments, even the music! ...It's true that some people watch it just for the animation and the effects, but if you have an open mind, it will open doors... |
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PantsGoblin
Subscriber Encyclopedia Editor Posts: 2969 Location: L.A. |
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I was only talking about Tokyo there, where I did see a lot of trash. Ya, most of the other places in Japan are pretty clean. |
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prettygirl
 Posts: 127 Location: too far from home... |
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Just wanted to write a note of thanks to everyone who's been sharing their thoughts on here
I really enjoy reading these. Keep the comments coming! |
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the_gioy
Posts: 16 Location: O'Fallon Missouri |
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Anime at first just made me excited as in WOW LOOK AT THIS COOL SHOW! That sort of thing but as I saw more shows it piqued my interst as to the whole underlying themes and over time I began to study not only the spoken and written languages of Japan but also the culture as well. I am in the process of attending classes next spring YEA! In other aspects it has helped me to really push myself to be a more positve person and try harder in all parts of my life. wether that be work or martial arts. |
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Haru to Ashura
 Posts: 617 Location: Termina |
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XD Comedy gold. My personal take on it: Anime only opens people up to Japanese culture if they let it. Some people could have watched anime all their lives (A guy-friend of mine comes to mind) but not know the first thing about Japanese culture, whereas I decided to read Kenji Miyazawa's writing and pursue learning about the Heian era after I watched a bit of anime and read a few volumes of Tokyopop/Mixx Manga. It ultimately depends on the curiousity and nature of the person, and anime can't do much to change that factor. Although ultimately, I've learned a hell of a lot more about Japanese culture through being a J-rock fan than an anime fan. |
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kainzero
 Posts: 309 |
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Some of it is pretty interesting.
Like Genshiken gives a pretty good look at Otaku subculture in Japan. But it just works like any other show. CSI can get you into criminology as much as Kenshin can get you into the samurai era; it's all about how much the viewer wants to learn about the subject material. |
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